The hills lay charcoal under the sallow moon, feeble rays struggled to shine through the broken layer of cloud. The moon looked pale and wan as if it shouldn’t be up on a night like this. It rose unwillingly and hung like an ill specter. The dull light captured silhouettes of small groups of people galloping under the lazy moon, making their way toward the city palace. Eireen gazed upon the Palace gate as they were closing in, her mind flew to the moment she said goodbye to her mom.

***

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to!” Grace grabbing her daughter arm, stopping her from leaving the house. She didn’t care if that would mean defying the King’s order.

Eireen put her hand on her mother’s and smiled; comforting her.

“I’ll be fine, mother. Don’t worry, I’ll message you when I am in the city palace.”

“What do you mean you’ll be fine?! Just a couple minutes ago you were reluctant to go back,” Grace protested, her eyes glaring at the young soldiers who already entered their house, “You don’t have to go and I can make sure that won’t happen, even if I need to give my life as the price!”

The girl pulled her mother in a tight embrace, “Don’t say that, please… I don’t want to lose you. You are all I have left in this world.”

“…and you are all I have in this world too,” her mother replied and tighten their hug.

“So please… don’t worry and let me answer the king’s order,” Eireen whispered and leaned back to look at her mother’s sad face, “I promise you everything will be okay.”

Grace unwillingly agreed and finally letting her go, “…keep your promise. Message me the moment you’ve arrived in the city palace. I know it only took a half day to get there so I will be waiting.”

“I promise.”

“One minute late, and I will go to the palace myself to drag you out!” Her mom scowled.

Eireen couldn’t help herself to giggle, her mom always been a red-hot headed woman, it amazing how her dad managed to ‘tame’ her. She pulled her in another tight hug and kissed both of her mom's cheeks, “you know that’s not a good move, right?”

“I don’t care,” her mom stated, obviously being stubborn.

“I am going now,” her eyes started to sting again as she said her goodbye. Somehow she felt like it would be her last time in seeing her mother, she tried to shake the feeling away and gave her mom the longest hug she could before she left the premises.

***

“The King will see you in his chamber,” the young captain voice snapped her back to the present time; they have arrived.

“… but it’s almost midnight,” Eireen said as she jumped off her mount, the great Azzax. One of the fastest mount the kingdom has. Its coat could change colors depends on the season, their heads marked with brown or black patches that form an ‘X’ over their noses, a short mane on the neck and a pair of long black spiraling horns made them not only good for fast transport but also great for war.

“The king said he will wait no matter how late it is,” responded the man, “I will escort you to his chamber now. Please follow me.”

‘His chamber… at this time of the hour? What does the king want?’ a dread feeling started to clamber in Eireen mind as she traipsed behind the captain.

The moment she arrived in front of the magnificent door; the king’s chamber, her heart twisted and sunk, her slender fingers pressed into the skin of her forearms. Her whole body shook, bones rattling in the constant fear of the future that may loom before her. Heart pounding so hard against her ribcage as her pulse pressed outward, jerking the veins within.  

The young captain announced her presence and opened the door for her, after hearing the king’s permission to enter.

The king’s bedchamber’s décor was truly fit for a king. Its furniture was opulent and over-elaborated with gliding. In the center was a monumental canopy of golden-threaded drapes, which protected the ruler from cold. The top of the bed was adorned with four bouquets of white Ostruka bird’s feather, a luxury product reserved only for the royalties. The very fine brocade décor of gold and silver on a jade wall as a complementary of few majestic paintings that the king’s had hand-picked himself.

Eireen walked in cautiously, her eyes swept around wishing for someone else presence besides the king. That wishes perished when she saw only the young golden-haired ruler was there. She turned her head toward the captain, pleading with her eyes for him to stay but that was proven futile. The man bowed down and left the room after Jace Ursa dismissed him with a simple wave.

“Come closer,” he ordered. She did as ordered, walked to the front of his bed and bowed respectfully.

“I have been waiting for you,” he said as he rose up from the bed, his black satin robe decorated with gold thread hung clumsily on his sensual chiseled body. His bare skin peeked through the half-opened robe, giving her the chance to see how smooth it was.

Eireen flushed and quickly drop her gaze to the ground, “I am sorry my liege If you don’t mind to apprise me with the reason why I am called to you in such an urgent matter.”

The king chuckling lowly and started to round around her like a Shabeel; a cat-like beast; cornering his prey. He then ran a finger across her neck lightly; leaving goose bumps trails to the surface that he touched.

“Master please...,” the pink pigtailed girl begged quietly with her eyes closed; the dread feeling she had before had accumulated to the point she could taste it in the tip of her tongue, “address me with your demands. I am worried that the longer I stay the higher chance Princess Amierra would …”

"Would what?” he growled, cutting her sentence.

Eireen bit her shaken lips didn’t dare to continue her sentence.

He then grabbed her, shoved her against the wall and caged her with his strong hands, she yelped in shock. Her eyes sealed in fear; too scared to imagine what would become to her.

“Who would have known that a girl like you…, “ the king’s voice was so close to her ears, his warm breath was all over her face.

“Look at me!” he ordered.

Eireen carefully opened her eyes, her coral eyes looked glassy and filled with fear. She never looked him in the eyes before, it was not polite to do so as a commoner.

“I said look at me,” he hissed when Eireen eyes weren’t on him, he put his index finger on her left cheek and pushed it to face him. He gazed deeply at her deer like eyes.

She didn’t dare to look away from him with his hand holding firmly on her chin. Her face was crimson with their closeness.

“Master Jace, please… ” she whimpered and put her hands on his chest to put a distance between them, hoping that he would realize that their position was improper, especially for a guy that already has a fiancé.

His piercing blue eyes drunk on her beautiful frightened face, they seemed dreamy almost intoxicated by it. A smile rose upon his lips as his face came near to hers; hovering closely. His hand softly caressed her right cheeks followed by his finger that lightly traced her chin. 

“I - I think I love you, Eireen Silver,” he murmured, mumbling to himself, “to realize that all this time… All I was longing for was …”

Eireen gasped hearing his sudden confession. Of all the reason she could think of on why he kissed her that night, never in her mind, she could expect to hear that it was because of love.

His eye fixated at her lips, his thick lashes fluttered and he lowered himself aiming to her lips.

Realizing what he was about to do, spontaneously Eireen put her hand over her lips.

“No!” she squeaked weakly and with all her might she pushed him away.

Jace astounded by her rejection but that quickly replaced by rage,

“What do you mean by no?! Woman, I choose you over all the princesses, here you dare to say no!?”

Eireen shook her head in fear, her face ashen seeing his rage, but she stood her ground and keeping their distance.

“Are you worrying about Amierra?” Jace's face softens a bit, “She knew that is all just business, we both need to be together to strengthen each other position, just for the sake of power.”

Eireen couldn’t help to feel sorry for the princess. She had seen how the princess’ eyes gazed on the king, her rare warm smile that always available for him, and the way she treated him was a distinct proof that Amiera Llana loves this golden-haired man. Everyone could see it; only a blind man who couldn’t; that it was beyond business for her.

“Don’t worry about her, I know you have some feeling too for me,” He smiled confidently, “my marriage with her is impossible to abrogate, but the rule never stops any king to take the second wife.”

‘The second wife? … does he mean that he wanted me to be his second wife?’  a nausea feeling hit her on the idea of being his wife.

“Come to me with confidence, Eireen Silver. I will announce our engagement the first thing in the morning,” Jace opened his arms wide; expecting her to run to his embrace in joy.

But to his surprise, Eireen kneeled down with her forehead touching the ground.

“My liege… you know I, Eireen Silver, your humble servant is in debt to your kindness, “ her voice trembled; knowing on what her answer next would bring her, “I would die for you in the battlefield without a second thought.”

“Mom… I have arrived at the Palace. I am fine, the king was just too excited in informing my promotion in the army. Don’t worry… I am fine.” She quickly sent a telepathic message to her mom in the hope she won’t realize what might happen to her only child; at least not in any near future.

Jace's face went dark, his opened arms slowly dropped and his hands clenched tightly. He knew what would be her answer.

“…but to be honored as your second wife… I-I must humbly ask for your forgiveness, that I have to decline such honor, as I am unworthy of it.”

His clenched hands gripped so tight that blood started to seep out. Her rejection was like a humiliation slap right into his face.

‘You will regret this, Eireen... I promise you that you will regret this!’